I've long been hearing about Som's Noodle House Authentic Thai Foods.  It has been positively reviewed by many distinguished bloggers. 

As a Thai Cuisine aficionado, I wanted to check out what I'm missing on.  Parking was a bit of a challenge but the place itself is spacious.

It had a lot of seating capacity.  The set up is casual with electric fans being utilized.

Food

Soups & Noodles

♥ Chicken Noodles (120 php)

The Chicken Noodles were so good that we had high expectations for the rest of the dishes we ordered.  The chicken bits were so tender.  The noodles were smooth, flavorful, bouncy and chewy.

Main Dishes

Red Curry Chicken (200 php)

The Red Curry Chicken was spiced up a bit and hinted with different herbs.  It was pretty good for the price.

♥ Chicken Pandan (150 php)

We enjoyed their version of the Chicken Pandan.  My mom always orders chicken pandan because it is her favorite.  She says this is the best among our orders next to the Chicken Noodles.

Sweet Yellow Curry Shrimp (200 php)

The Sweet Yellow Curry Shrimp is delicious but the sweetness gets a bit overwhelming after consuming more.  But, for the price, I'm quite satisfied that they served huge shrimps.

Rice

Beef Fried Rice (250 php)

Pork Fried Rice (250 php)

Seafood Fried Rice (250 php)

We regretfully ordered fried rice in three variants for staple: Beef Fried Rice, Pork Fried Rice and Seafood Fried Rice.  We should have skipped this for more noodles!

Drinks

Thai Tea (50 php)

The Thai Tea is served in a small bottle so I don't really consider it cheap.  It was too sweet for our liking. 


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
So how did we find Som's Noodle House Authentic Thai Foods? We loved the noodles but the rest are sakto lang (just right). 

After numerous Gerry's branches sprouting locally and internationally, who could ever guess that it would open Sweet Chili Thai Fish & Noodle House.


I have to admit, I had no clue on what to expect.  The name barely even hints what it has to offer.
 

The pioneer store is stationed at Fisher Mall.  It has a casual ans Asian-influenced dining area with an open kitchen.

Food

Soups & Noodles

♥ Seafood Tom Yum (205 php)

 The Seafood Tom Yum is good for 2-3 persons.

♥ Seafood Tom Yum (205 php)

As you can see, they made use of authentic Thai spices which made the soup rich and flavorful.  I even like the spicy kick it delivers in every sip.  Seafood include fish fillet, shrimp and squid.  

Seafoods

♥ 5 Kind Herbs (365 php)

The 5 Kind Herbs is a deep-fried king fish dish with sweet and sour sauce, garlic and five authentic Thai herbs.  This is my first time to try a dish like this and I certainly enjoyed it!


Chicken

Chicken Pandan (265 php)

One of our all-time Thai favorites is the chicken pandan.  Sweet Chili's Chicken Pandan does not disappoint in terms of size and taste.

Stir Fried Spicy Chicken in Basil Leaves (245 php)

The Stir Fried Spicy Chicken in Basil Leaves is another hit among my companions.  We all enjoyed the crispy skin, tender juicy meat and the crunchy basil leaves.

Pork 

Grilled Liempo (215 php)

 I don't know what's Thai about the Grilled Liempo.  But, my friends enjoyed eating it with the spiced up sauce.


Dry Noodles

♥ Phad Thai with Egg (185 php)

 The Phad Thai with Egg is delicious!  The noodles were bouncy and chewy, the sauce is rich in a captivating way especially with the chopped peanut.  The shrimp was so soft.

Vegetables

♥ Tofu with Minced Chicken (195 php)

The Tofu with Minced Chicken is my favorite among all our orders.  It's fried breaded smooth and silky tofu topped with basil, chili and minced chicken.

Rice

Bagoong Rice (185 php)

For the price, this generous serving of Bagoong Rice is already good up to 4 persons.  Their version is pretty good because of the huge pork chunks. 

♥ Seafood Rice in Basil Sauce (185 php)

I've always been a fan of bagoong rice but this time, the Seafood Rice in Basil Sauce appealed more to my liking.

Desserts

Thako (85 php)

 A serving of the Thako has six dessicated coconut topped cream pudding with tiny tapioca pearls base and wrapped in pandan leaves.  My friends found this to be irresistible while I thought this is one of the sweeter thakos I've tried.

Drinks

Beverages

Thai Milk Iced Tea (55 php)

The Thai Milk Iced Tea was a bit too sweet for me.


Shakes & Juices

Ripe Mango Shake (80 php)

♥ Green Mango Shake (80 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking for affordable Thai cuisine that's good for sharing then Sweet Chili Thai Fish & Noodle House is one of your best bets.  I regret missing out on the Thai Noodles so I'm planning on coming back with the family.

I got to try some drinks at Black Canyon Coffee and International Thai Cuisine one time.  I noticed that they had some food offering which garnered international awards so I vowed to come back and try their dishes.  

P.S. In the past I've been focusing more on the Bonifacio Global City side.  A few months ago, I got to try Amici in Venice Piazza and noticed that there are also a lot of restaurants blooming in McKinley Hill especially in Tuscany Estates.  I'll probably try more of the new restaurant concepts here next time because parking is FREE! XD
Since I rarely go out with the family, I am usually the one who gets to choose where we should eat out.  So one time, I decided to go finally revisit Black Canyon Coffee.  The family didn't seem convinced that they have any interesting dishes because the "International Cuisine" part on the sign is almost negligible and the place looks like a typical coffee shop.  

This poster on the outside is the only hint that they served food

Upon stepping in, we were asked if we're dining in and then ushered to a table on the first floor.  She then handed the menu which implies that the counter would probably be for take out of drinks and cakes.  What about for drinks and cake orders that are dine in?  


We passed by a chiller with some cakes.  But, these cakes are not on the menu so we forgot about them as soon as we were seated. 


The first floor has a casual dining area with black tables and chairs.  There are loft-type seats on one side and typical lounge or coffee shop couches with small tables by the window side. 

The second floor is more of a cozy-type.  It's closed since we've been told that its used exclusively for functions but I happen to pass by just for the restroom. 

Food


Salads

♥ Grilled Black Pepper Salmon Steak Salad (242 php)

We tried to order those recommended on the menu but there's just so many of them. XD One of them is the Grilled Black Pepper Salmon Steak Salad.   This is a sensational salad because of the perfectly grilled salmon that's almost pillow soft and oh-so-flavorful!  Although I've had grilled salmon so many times in my life, I never thought it could be as awesome as this!  You can Choose your salad dressing: Japanese Sesame Dressing, Chilli Lime and Salad Cream.  We chose the Japanese Sesame Dressing which was a great complement.

Curries/Soups

♥ Spicy Prawn Soup (Tom Yum Goong) (230 php)

The Spicy Prawn Soup (Tom Yum Goong) is marked as being internationally awarded for many years.  It is well-deserved!  It's has spiciness brings out the various flavorful spices instead of overpowering it.  It's got generous portions of soft prawns and mushrooms too.

Ala Carte

♥ Stir Fried Curry Prawn, Chicken, Mushroom and Chilli (256 php)

Another recommended dish is the Stir Fried Curry Prawn, Chicken, Mushroom and Chilli.  This is my favorite dish among our orders!  We all loved this. 

Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts (Gai Pad Med Ma Muang Himmapan) (226 php)

The Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts (Gai Pad Med Ma Muang Himmapan) is my mom's favorite dish so she picked this out.  This has a bit of a spicy kick which I loved. 


Noodles

♥ Thai Style Fried Noodles with Prawn (Pad Thai) (232 php)

The Thai Style Fried Noodles with Prawn (Pad Thai) is another internationally awarded dish.  This is one of the best pad Thai we've ever tried.  Like their other offerings, the flavors of the spices are really brought out and harmonize with each other.


Rice Dishes

Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste (194 php)

The Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste is also very good!  I just wish they had a bigger serving size because we're not used to order fried rice individually. 

Hot Coffee

♥ Cappuccino (120 php)

My brother ordered the Cappuccino.  It is served with a beautiful leaf latte art, cookies and a cup of jasmine tea.  Having tried almost all coffee shops in the Metro, I have to declare this as one of the best we've had!

Caffe Latte (120 php)

Like the Capuccino, the Caffe Latte with rosy latte art, cookies and jasmine tea is just as splendid.  My little sis is more than pleased with this.



Iced Coffee

♥ Black Canyon Iced Coffee (140 php)

The Black Canyon Iced Coffee has a distinguishing rich, bold, roasted and nutty flavor.  I loved it!

Coffee Frappe

Black Crunch Frappe (150 php)

The Black Crunch Frappe is more on the sweet side and lighter coffee flavor.  Although I'm an Oreo fan, I wished the coffee flavor was a bit stronger like the rest.

♥ Cranberry Coffee Frappe (150 php)

The Cranberry Coffee Frappe has the rich blissful blend like the Black Canyon Iced Coffee but with cranberries and whipped cream.


Iced Tea

Iced Lemon Tea (65 php)

I got the Iced Lemon Tea as a freebie for my first foursquare check-in.  Now, this is one of the rare moments where I'd be raving about a house brewed Iced Lemon Tea.   This had a soothing citrus flavor which is not sweet at all.

♥ Cha Thai Yen (Thai Iced Tea with Milk) (90 php)

If you enjoy Thai milk tea like I do, their Cha Thai Yen (Thai Iced Tea with Milk) is a good option.

♥ Green Tea Frappe (140 php)

Among the Iced Tea selections, my favorite is the Green Tea Frappe.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Black Canyon Coffee and International Thai Cuisine offers brilliant dishes and blends making it a great dining, meeting or hang out place.  Did I mention they have a fast and reliable WiFi?  The staffs are very accommodating too.  They also have promos and special menus so avail of that for more savings.  I find their pricing scheme for the food is quite odd because they are not exact.  I also noticed that this branch has higher pricing than their first branch in SM South Mall.  They also have a 5% service charge even for drinks when dined in which is not usual for typical coffee shops. 

Mango Tree is an international Thai restaurant brand with outlets  in Bangkok, Dubai, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Doha. 

Mango Tree is found in Bonifacio High Street Central with a store-like facade.  It also has a cozy al fresco and bar area. 

Once you go inside, you'll be mesmerized by its cozy, casual fine dining ambiance.  It has majestic curtains, elegant black leatherette lofts and beautiful table settings.  

It has a modernistic atmosphere with high ceiling.  It has a mezzanine area too.  It's walls are filled with Thai ornaments which give it a nice Thai flair. 

Project Brave Kids
My main reason for dining at Mango Tree is to celebrate the birthday of the kid beneficiaries of Project Brave Kids.  For the second anniversary of Mango Tree, they decided to donate a portion of their sales for their anniversary months March, April and May to Project Brave Kids, a non-profit organization who seeks to aid the family of children from age 0-12 who are inflicted with cancer.
 

I've always had a soft spot for Corporate Social Responsibility activities so I just had to attend this small gathering.  After losing a 15-year old friend to leukemia a decade ago, I could understand the struggles of these kids and their families so I really appreciate Mango Tree's initiative in choosing to do this.

Children's Birthday Cake by Mango Tree

These kids are quite sensitive so Mango Tree did their best to prepare a little gathering serving them spaghetti and preparing cakes so they could be comfortable.  It was a success because I could see smiles on the kids faces as they blew their birthday candles while the entire Mango Tree crew sang them their birthday song.


Food


Cold Appetizers

♥ Yum Mamuang (280 php)

The Yum Mamuang is a green mango salad with peanuts and grated coconut.  This dish was executed perfectly.  The peanuts, grated coconut as well as the onion bits were able to complement the nicely thin green mango strips well.  If you love our local tangy green mangos then this is a must try for you.

Hot Appetizers

Tod Mun Goong (380 php)

The Tod Mun Goong are deep fried shrimp cakes served with sweet chili sauce.  The Tod Mun Goong has a wonderful golden brown crispy coating and a tender yet compact shrimp cake within.  I like that it wasn't oily at all.  Both kids and adult will enjoy this.

Soup & Curry

Tom Yum Goong (450 php)

The Tom Yum Goong is a spicy hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, mushroom and red chillies.  This had generous amounts of shrimp and the taste of the Thai spices and coconut milk were prevalent.  The one served to us was toned down so the spiciness was hardly determinable for me and instead I found it a bit salty for my taste.   Although my companions who don't like spicy dishes loved this, I personally prefer this being authentically Thai spicy so I'll probably request the chef to cook it that way on my next visit.  


Thai Specialty

Talay Ruam Mit (1700 php)

The Talay Ruam Mit is an excellent option for the lenten season.  It's a hot seafood platter of grilled prawns, squid, crab and a trio of sauces.  This platter is a bit expensive but the seafood served are as fresh as it can be.  The crabs are deliciously sweet and flavorful.  While,  the squid are soft and chewy which makes it quite addictive with the sauces. However, the prawns were not cooked evenly as some parts were still raw. 
 

♥ Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now (850 php)

It was my first time to try the Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now.  It's a steamed sea bass with fresh garlic, chili and lime sauce.  It's served hot with a candle at the bottom so its recommend to eat this upon serving.  The flavors of the ingredients are fragrant yet subtle so you can enjoy the nice clean taste of the sea bass.  This is a must try!

Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung (400 php)

The Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung is another new discovery for me.  It's probably because we often opt for the usual Pandan Chicken when ordering.   The Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung is stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts, capsicum and onion.  It's reminds me of my favorite Chinese dish.  I guess this is the Thai counterpart of it.  The taste is good but again I'd prefer if this was spiced up a bit with some more capsicum.   Also, I'd imagine the play of textures would have been better if the chicken bits were not dried and tough to eat.  

Rice & Noodles

♥ Pad Thai Jay (350 php)

The Pad Thai Jay is our favorite stir-fried rice noodles with mixed vegetables and tofu.  This is one of the best versions of pad thai I've encountered yet.  The noodles were moist and bouncy.  It has generous amounts of crunchy bean sprouts that makes it a chewing pleasure to eat with the rice noodles.  And more importantly, the taste was well-balanced.  It was neither too strong nor too light.  I highly recommend this and I'll definitely order this again on my subsequent visits.

♥ Khao Ob Supparod (380 php)

The Khao Ob Supparod is pineapple fried rice with chicken bits, corn kernels, green peas, onions, mushroom and raisins.  I expected this to be dominantly sweet and sour similar to the Chinese version but its actually different.  All the ingredients especially the bold flavor of the chicken makes this a flavorful fried rice which can be eaten on its own.  This is quite interesting to try!

Desserts
Finally, my favorite part in every Thai meal...

♥ Tub Tim Grob (250 php)

The Tub Tim Grob is red ruby water chestnuts with homemade coconut ice cream.  Unlike those served in Simply Thai or Makan Makan which I loved because of the textures of the red rubies, I fell in love with the Tub Tim Grob because of its delicious mildly salted ice cream made from coconut cream.  The red rubies, the ice cream plus the jackfruit delivers a heavenly sensation.

♥ Tako Khao Phod (220 php)

The Tako Khao Phod is a coconut custard with sweet corn.  Don't let its appearance fool you.  Although this may look plain, inside it has a genrous layer of corn kernels and  coconut bits.  Unlike the usual gelatinous texture, this one is pleasantly soft, smooth and creamy.  In terms of flavor, it was not plain coconut cream but instead slightly salty.  Although its not the usual for me, I'm quite surprised that it actually works well especially with the other components. 

Drinks

Specialty Drinks

Thai Iced Tea (90 php)

The Thai Iced Tea is a delicious blend of Thai iced tea with the right amount of sweetness.

Special Drink of the Day (fresh orange and carrot juice)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Mango Tree is a world class Thai restaurant with superb casual fine dining ambiance.  They're Thai chefs can offer you an authentic Thai experience.  But at the same time, they can also cater to adjustments to soothe the Filipino taste.  I suggest you advise the kitchen about your preference upon ordering.   Mango Tree is a great place to start your exploration for Thai cuisine.  The back portion of their menu even has Thai names with the photos of the dishes to aid you in ordering.  The servers are quite knowledgeable with the menu too so don't hesitate to ask them.  The price is a bit steep but given the food quality, service and location, its quite reasonable.  I like that they have a wide range of Thai offerings so I'm really tempted to go back and explore some more.